Contact Anita for up-to-date information on finding somewhere to stay for your time studying on the Gothenburg programme at Sussex.
Things to see and do in Brighton & Hove and Sussex
For the last two hundred years Brighton has had a reputation throughout Britain as a place of leisure, and is one of the largest of the UK’s many seaside resorts. The town’s reputation as a tourist destination developed in the 18th century as people came to bathe –and to drink seawater! – for medicinal reasons. In the 1780s, the Prince Regent, later George IV, began the building of the Pavilion, the former royal residence close to the seafront designed in an eye-catching tribute to Indian architecture. Other Regency-era architecture in Brighton can be found in the elegant terraces of nearby Kemp Town.
Seafront
The town’s main attraction for modern day visitors is probably the 524-metre Palace Pier which extends out into the English Channel. There were once two piers, but the other, West Pier, was destroyed by fire – although its remains can still be seen from the seafront as one walks towards Hove. Next to the Pier is the shingle (stone!) beach, which can attract as many as 150,000 visitors per day in the summer, and is lined with bars and cafes.
Other attractions
Heading inland from the Pier and the beach, there are many shops and restaurants in both Brighton and Hove, with the North Laine area just south of the main railway station particularly interesting for its arty boutiques and vintage clothes shops. The city’s nightlife is renowned not only in the UK but throughout Europe, with a vibrant clubbing scene and an impressive selection of pubs. The live music scene is particularly impressive and gigs take place every night, with venues catering to all tastes.
Brighton and Hove is also notable for its sizable LGBT community. The city’s reputation for open-mindedness has produced an atmosphere of impressive diversity which is celebrated every summer in one of Europe’s largest Pride events, which takes place over two days.
Sport
Sports fans are well provided for, whether they want to play or watch. A number of cycle paths lead away from the city into the surrounding South Downs, which also offer many enjoyable challenges for hikers and even runners. There are also facilities for swimming, gym and climbing at various locations across Brighton and Hove. Football fans can watch local team Brighton and Hove Albion at their stadium opposite the University’s Falmer campus.
Further afield
A little further afield, there are plenty of possibilities for day excursions. Nearby Lewes has an eleventh-century castle as well as a number of interesting historical streets. Carrying on along the coast, one can visit Hastings, where the Normans won the battle to conquer England in 1066, as well as the spectacular cliff scenery of Beachy Head and Seven Sisters. In the other direction, Arundel and Chichester are well-preserved medieval towns.